Tuesday, September 11, 2012

I am unapologetic for my distaste of Gefilte Fish. I shudder at the thought of the jello-y cellulite like jiggle of these Eastern European anemic carp 'meatballs'. One of my guests a few years past had the blasphemy to bring the canned version, it was his mom's tradition while he was a budding young boy. Sacrilegious to taint my holiday table. I was mortified!
In my defense, in our household, I am the one that acquired more of a taste for Eastern European delicacies, than my Ashkenazi husband, Jonathan. Though I still stand firm, unrepentant in my dislike of Gefilte Fish. To add insult to injury I've got no love lost for jelled calf's foot either.

Jonathan's maternal grandmother, the eldest of four, was born in Detroit, Michigan, a seamstress and a homemaker. Her parents emigrated to the United States before World War II from Pinsk, Poland and Lithuania. Pinsk is in today's Belarus. His maternal grandfather, youngest of four, American born, from Lithuanian descent as well, was a laborer. During World War II he worked at an arms factory and at a clock factory in the latter part of his life.

Jonathan's paternal grandmother, a homemaker, the youngest of seven, was born and raised in Worcester, MA to well to do Hungarian and German parents. His father's father, a hat cutter, was a recent immigrant from Kiev, in today's Ukraine. A ladies man of sorts. Married multiple times, twice to the same woman, Jonathan's grandmother. A match not made in heaven in Jonathan's maternal great great parents' dissatisfied eyes.

Jonathan is as Ashkenazi as they come and as sweet as American Pie. He grew up on steak and potatoes that his father regularly prepared, while he and his older sister were growing up in Worcester, MA. Fish was not part of his repertoire, much less gefilte fish. Coming within sight of chopped liver and white fish salad makes him queasy. We all however do like fluffy matzo ball soup, not the sinkers, challah, chocolate rugulach and chocolate babka.

I acquired the taste for chopped liver and white fish salad in the US. I buy a dabble of each at the kosher deli, as I love both, but can't bring myself to add all that schmaltz to the chopped liver, so I never make it at home. Preparing a leaner version just wouldn't be the same.

I might have numbed the memory, but I don't have any recollection of my
Ashkenazi friends and their families while growing up in Israel ever
making these dishes, especially the ones I vehemently detest. Ashkenazi food is what we of Sepharadi and Indian descent population in Israel used to refer to as 'laundered food', as in laundry. Boiled to death, soapy and tasteless.While some of my prejudices dissipated into thin air after coming to America, some are still deep rooted in the fibers of my body and ethers of my soul, but never say never!Cook's note on the recipe: Once in a long while I come across a recipe that reinvents the holiday table and this one falls under that category. The dish's liquorice like sweetness with a tinge of spiciness and strokes of turmeric yellow is absolutely divine. A sensational marriage of flavors, I could have never imagined, using the Greek ouzo. An anise based liquor, similar to sambuca from Italy, pastis from France, absinthe from Switzerland, aquardiente from Colombia and arak from the Levant. Artichoke Bottoms Filled With Carp 'Meatballs' In Ouzo and Fennel Sauce
Serves 4-8*

The carp 'meatballs': On medium heat saute the onions in the oil for few minutes until onions are translucent. Let cool and add all 'meatball' ingredients and mix well. Make 8 balls and place in artichoke bottoms.

The sauce: On medium heat saute the onions until onions are lightly caramelized. Add the garlic, chile, celery and fennel to the onions and continue to saute for a couple of minutes longer. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients, bring to a boil and immediately turn down to a low/medium heat and keep cooking, uncovered, for five minutes. Add the filled artichoke bottoms to the sauce and cook covered with a lid on low heat for 20-30 minutes, until done. Once in awhile spoon some sauce over the 'meatballs' to moisten the tops while cooking.

Can be served as a starter for 8 or over rice with two artichoke bottoms per each serving.

Cook's notes: Fish is a symbolic traditional food served on Rosh HaShana, The Jewish New Year. Usually served whole. Wishing all to be the head (leaders in this world) and not the tail (followers). Happy 5773 to you all!

This recipe was adapted from a recipe published in Al HaShulchan magazine, courtesy of Chef Eyal Meron, Tchernichovsky 6 restaurant.

The original recipe called for a lot more turmeric. Growing up in an Indian household I knew better than to use the 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon called for in the recipe.

Gefilte is one thing I never touched in those 2.5 years. you know where. the pre school feast table LOL.Laundered? hahaaa soapy washed out food does not sound good at all! But carp is close to my heart and so are artichokes. Lovely creation Shulie!! and ouzo too :)

I really liked reading all about J's background...that sort of stuff fascinated me. Your description of the food is so funny! Laundry...oh no. But interesting that you still have those passionate feelings as an adult about them. Your dish is so flavorful and interesting. Perfect for the holiday.:)

I love your post for so many reasons. First, I spent years working on my genealogy and immigrant (and Jewish) family stories fascinate me. I could listen forever. Second, I had a good Sepharade friend in Paris, married to an Ashkenazi who once said to me - whenever her mother-in-law or anyone of the Ashkenazi side cooked, she looked across the table of food and all the food was brown! Just brown. Love it! Third.... oooh chopped liver, white fish salad and gefilte fish, sorry Shulie but I love them all! Big jars of gefilte fish - though I will say I always asked my mom to buy the gefilte fish in broth rather than in jelly. But your amazing amazing carp dish is fabulous! This is the kind of special dish I like to cook and serve my husband who hates - gefilte fish.

I'm slowly developing a taste for fish so might give these a try. I'm not Jewish so haven't trued gefilte fish though I've seen it in the supermarker. I do love trying different foods around the world though :)